Gas-supply apparatus



Oct. 7, 1930. c. F. WALLACE 1,777,986

' GAS SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1927 INVENfOR.

. I BY 1 r '4;"ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1930. c. F. WALLACE GAS SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1927 2 shww Sheet 2 IN l/E/VTOR By Ema;

A; ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mama r.- ,wALLAca, or" wnsrrmtn, NEW JERSEY, Accretion TO WALLACE a mum- NAN COMPANY, 1110., OF BELLEVILLE, .NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWYOBI GAS-SUPPLY APPARATUS Application filed November 30,1927. Serial No. 238,851.

1 This invention relates to gas supply appa'ratus' for supplying a gas at a controlled rate which is not aflected by thepressure of the source of supply of the gas, and the object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this kind. The invention has been made especially with the idea of providing an improved apparatus for withdrawing chlorine from a container holdin a supply of chlorine under pressure, and or supplying the chlorine gas for'the treatment of water, such as the water of city or town supplies or sewage or other Watery liquids, at a controlled and measured rate which may readily be varied as desired. The present invention is an improvement on the apparatus described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,514,939 dated November 11, 1924, although features of the present invention may be employed in apparatus differing widelv from the. apparatus shown in said patent.

he invention aims especially to avoid difiiculties resulting from the formation of chlorine-hydrate in the apparatus, and to provide an apparatus which is accurate and'reliable in operation, is of rugged construction, and the parts of which are conveniently accessible.

Apparatus embodying the invention in the form now considered most desirable comprises means for supplying gaseous chlorine or other treating gas drawn from a source of supply under pressure to a flow-controlling orlfice of a flowineter at a constant sub stantially atmospheric pressure, a water aspirator or other suction device for drawing the gas. through the flow-controlling orifice and mixing it with water, means for determining the suction head on the suction side of the as irator by the negative head. of a column water raised b 'the'aspirator and discharging to the asplrator throat, and

' means providing a flow resistance for reducing the suction head transmitted to the orifice of the flow meter which is adjustable for varying the rate of flow of the gas.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of an approved chlorinating apparatus embodying the various features of the invention in conmotion with drawings illustrating such an 'Fig. 1 and partly in section on line 2-2 of Flg. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View taken on the line 33of Fig. 1; 1

gig. 4 is a view taken on line H of Fig. 1; an

Fig. 5 is a detailed View partly in section shtliwmg the chlorine reducing and control va ve.

bell jar which stands open end down in a tray 11 and provides a chlorine supply chamber in which, when the apparatus is in operation, a supply of chlorine gas is maintained under a constant substantially atmospheric pressure. Most desirably, the chlorine is maintained at a slightly negative pressure. Water is sup lied to the tray 11 through a pipe 12 an is maintained at a constant level'in the tray by a suitable means, such as the valve 13 controlled by a ball float 14, and the bell jar is supported so as toprovide for passage of water into the jar beneath its lower edge. Chlorine gas is supplied to the chamber within the bell jar from a suitable source of supply under pressure, such as a tank of compressed liquified chlorine. For supplying the gas to the chlorine'chamher, a chlorine supply tube 15 is rovided to which connection is made from t e source of supply and from which a tube 16 leads upward through the bottom of the tray 11 and through a stufiing box 17 to a'point above the maximum water level within the bell ar. Thesupply of chlorine to the chamber is controlled by means of a valve 18 adapted to seat in a valve seat rovided at the upper end of the tube 16 an Chlorine gas is drawn from the supply chamber by means of a suction device formed by a water aspirator 20 which draws the gas through a flow controlling orifice 21 formed in'the top of a flow meter tube 22 which extends upward within the bell jar from the operated by a ball float 19.

7 Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a 'suctlon ofthe aspirator estabhs vacuum, or negative pressure, within t e tube a bottom of'the tray. A port 23 connects from below the water level in the supply Chamber to the bottom of the tube 22, and

. a gas tube 24 connects to a passage 25 leading to the aspirator and exten s upward within the tube 22 with its open upper end above {the maximum level to which water rises'in the tube 22 under the suction head es-- tablished therein by the aspirator 20.

When the apparatus is in operation, the es a artial 1 22causing-the chlorine gas to flow from the sup ly chamber through the orifice '21. This ten s to reduce the pressure within the supply chamber.' Pressure reduction within the supply chamber causes the water to rise Within the chamber, and when the water level within the chamber has risen sufliciently to slightly lift the float 19, the chlorine valve 18 is opened to permit chlorine gas to flow into the chamber and prevent further reduction of the pressure in the chamber. If the chlorine' 'as should flow into the chamber at a rate aster than it is being drawn from the chamber through the orifice 21, the increased pressure within the chamber would cause the water level within the chamber to drop, permitting the float 19 to drop and close the valve 18, thus shutting off the supply of chlorine gas to the chamber until thereduction of pressure within the chamber again resulted in the rise of the Water level causing the float to open the valve. The means for controlling the inflow of chlorine to the chamber, .that'is, the pressure reducing valve 18 controlled by the float 19, thus acts to maintainthe desired slight negative pressure within the chamber whatever the rate r at which the gas is drawn from the chamber through the orifice 21. The degree of nega tive pressure, or partial vacuum, maintained within the chamber, and the operating water level within the chamber, depend on the position of the float 19 at which the valve 18 is closed. The float is carried by a lever pivoted to. a lug 26 extending from the pipe 16,

so that by moving the pipe sli htly upward .tersthe apparatus through a shut-oflvalve 30 from which it passes through a strainer 31 and then, by pipe 32 which extends,

through the wallof the pedestal 33, to a connecting block 34, and thence through a pressure reducing valve 35, from which the water at the desired pressure determined by adjustment of the valve passes to a connecting block 36, and thence by pipe -37 extending being out through the wall of the pedestal to the an aspirator supporting pipe 38.

bottom 0 The as irator supportin pipe 38 is sup.-' ported i il vertical position by brackets 40 and 41 extending from-the pedestal 33.

The aspirator 20 is formed by a small Venturi tube seated within a tubular fitting the aspirator. The tubular fittings 42 and 43 are externally threaded and screwed into .a casing member 44 which is mounted on the upper end of the sup orting pipe 38. An inner tube 45 extends om the lower end of the fitting 42 downward within the supportin pipe 38, this tube being made of hard {11 her or other, suitable chlorine resistant maternal and serving to provide a diffusion chamber which is of sufficient depth" to prevent access of chlorine water to the supply line when the apparatus is shut down,

- The chlorine gas from the supply chamber within the bell jar lOjpassing through the flow-controlling orifice 21 into the meter tube 22 flows thence downward through the inner meter tube 24 and through the passage 25 formed in the bottom of the tray 11 and thence by connecting pipe to a suction chamber51 formed within a block 52. From the suction chamber,-the gas passes through a short horizontal tube 53 to a closed space surroundingthe throat of the aspirator from which it enters the aspirator throat through a series of inlet-openings 54 located just beyond the critical cross-section of the throat. I

A water column tube 55 extends downward from the block '52, the upper end 'of this tube being open to the chamber 51 and the lower end being open and extending down below the water level of a constant level tray 56. Under'the action of the aspirator, water is lifted in the tube 55, andthe' suction head in the suction chamber 51 is thus controlled and determined by the negative head of the column of water which is raised in the'tube, excess capacity of the aspirator satisfied by water drawn through the suctlon tube 53. The capacity of the aspirator must be sufliciently great compared to the size of-the orifice 21 to maintain a partial vacuum or negativepressure in the suction chamber 51 sufiicient to raise the,

water in the tube 55 up to the level of the suction passage 53. This bein so, 'the'maximum degree of vacuum which can'be produced by the aspirator will be that equal 7 I to the negative head measured from the wa:

ter level in the constant level "box 56 to about the center line of the suction passage 53. This passage 53 .is desirably Inade short and as small as possible consistent with the necessary flow capacity,'so as to avoid its becoming clogged by chlorine hydrate.

' A constant suction head will thus be maintained on the suction side of the aspirator v tending to draw chlorine gas from the supply chamber through the orifice 21. In order to provide for adjusting the rate of supply of the chlorine gas, provision is made for adjustably varying the suction head transmitted from thesuction chamber to the chlorine orifice 21 by means of an adjustable resistance in the gas flow line. For this purpose, in the construction shown, an ad'ustable restriction is provided by means 0 a valve 60 atthe lower end of the tube 24 which is adjustable by means.of a handle 61 beneath my 11. This chlorine rate-of-flow valve,

according to its setting, determines the suction head transmitted to the flow-controlling orifice 21, thus determining the rate of flow of chlorine from the supply chamber to the aspirator. Water will rise within the meter tube to a height corres onding to the degree of vacuum, or suction ead, therein, and the Wit water elevation in the meter tube above the level in the chamber 10 will indicate the drop in pressure across the orifice 21 so that, the meter tube being provided with a proper scale according to the size of the orifice, the

height of the column of water in the tube will indicate the rate of flow of the chlorine gas either directly if the tube is provided h a rate-of-flow scale, or indirectly if the tube is provided with a'scale marked to show the negativepressure, orsuction head.

In the construction shown, the meter scale is provided bymeans of a sealed tube 62 which is held against the meter tube, as by means of a spring clip 63, and which contains a strip of paper or other suitable material on which a scale is marked. An easily readable scale, not alfected by the chlorine within the chamber, is thus conveniently and cheaply provided, and the scale is readily adjustable to brin its zero mark to the water level to be maintained within the cham ber. The scale should be so adjusted, since the rate of flow of chlorine from the chamber depends u on the difference in pressure across the ori ce, and this difference in pressure is measured by the height of the column a of water within the tube 22 above the level of water within the chamber 10. A flow meter having a scale asabove described is claimed in my divisional application filed June 3rd,

' 1930, Serial No. 459,030.

The chlorine gas, entering the aspirator throat through the inlet openings 54, goes quickly into solution in the water flowing through the aspirator and the chlorine solution thus formed passes through a discharge pipe 65 which leads to the point of application of the solution to the water to'be treated,

' or other place of use. A check valve, the

casing 66 of which is shown,may be provided.

just beyond the aspirator when the solution is to be discharged into a closed water line or otherwise against'pressure. i

As stated, the ressure at which the water is sup lied to t e aspirator depends upon the a justment of the pressure reducm valve 35, and this pressure will be adjust according to the pressure against which the chlorine solution 1s to be discharged. Where the solution discharge line extends downward for a considerable distance, the reduced water pressure required for supplying the aspirator may be less than the pressure desirable for supplying the constant level trays.

Water for supplylng the trays is, therefore,

in the apparatus shown, taken off from the high pressure side of the valve. As shown, a supply pipe 70 leads from the connecting block 34 and is connected to the pipe 12 by which water is supplied to the tray 11. v A branch pipe 71 also leads from the pipe 70 to supply the tray 56. The supply of water to the tray 56 is controlled b means of a valve 72 operated by a ball oat 73. The tray is divided by means of a partition 74 into two compartments, one serving as the constant level compartment for supplying water to the tube 55 leading to the 1njector SliCtlOIl chamber, and the water from the sup- P y sma er compartment. ater flows the smaller com artment into the larger compartment over t e partition 74, and the water level in the larger compartment is always e maintained below the level of the top of t artition. This insures against the possibilit of any chlorine water coming in contact with the inlet valve 72, To insure against water rising above the desired level 1n the larger compartment of the tray, an overflow tube 75 is provided to which a wastetube 7 6 is connected.

One of the objects of the present invention is to eliminate difficulty from the formation of chlorine-hydrate. With this object in view, the apparatus has been arranged so that no water is drawn by the aspirator from the chlorine supply chamber within the bell jar l0,and the chlorine gas flows as a gas unmixed with water through the fixed inneradvantage of eliminating meter error due to,

the frictionof flowing water.

In the absence of any flow oi water from pipe 71 being dischar ed into the other 7 let passage 80 is provided leading from the chlorine chamber within the bell jar through the bottom of the tray to a waste pipe 81. This passage is controlled by a circulation valve 82 which is adjusted so as to permit a very slight flow of water through the outlet 80, just enough to causev a flow of water into the bell jar sufficient to prevent any objectionable presence of chlorine in the body of Water in the tray outside the bell jar.

-In order to further reduce the tendency of chlorine hydrate to build up in the Water in the tray inside the bell jar, by reducing the cooling of the water inside the bell jar by the water outside the bell 'ar, a cup 85 isprovided in the tray outside the bell jar into which the water from the supply valve 13 is discharged and from which an overflow tube 86 having a bleeder hole 88 leads to a waste discharge tube 87. The bottom of the cup is formed to permit passage of water, so that the proper water level is maintained in the tray without eddy currents being set up in the tray outside the bell ar.

- The suction chamber 51 is desirably provided with a sight glass 90 to permit the operator to see into the suction chamber at the level of the suction passage for observing whether or not the machine is operating properly. WVhen properly operating. the water will stand at the level of the suction passage 53 to be pulled into the aspirator through suction passage 53 along with the gas.

Parts of the apparatus with which chlorine may come in contact will, of course,.be made of suitable chlorine resistant material.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole will be understood from the foregoing description. If, the apparatus is to operate with the gas maintained at a slightly positive pressure within the bell jar, then the operating Water level within the bell jarwill be below the water level in the tray outside the jar, and if the supply of gas in the bell jar is to be maintained at atmospheric pressure,

lthe operating water level within the jar will be the same as the water level in the tray. Most desirably, however, as before stated, the gas is maintained at a slightly negative pressure in the bell jar.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and to which the foregoing description: has been largely confined, but that it includes changes and modifications within the claims, and that features of the invention as claimed may be used independently of other features thereof.

flow resistance for varying the suction head transmitted to the discharge side of the orifice. 2. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising means providing a flow-controlling orifice, means for supplying the gas to the intake side of the orifice at a constant substantially atmospheric pressure, a suction device connected to a passage leading'from the orifice, means for maintaining a constant negative pressure on the suction side of the suction device determined by the negative head of a column of liquid raised by the suction device, and means providing an adjustable restriction for varying the suction head 1Eiransmitted to the discharge side of the ori- 3. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising means providin a flow-controlling orifice, means for supp ying the gas to the intake side of the orifice at a constant sub-r stantially atmospheric pressure, a suction device connected to a passage leading from the orifice, means for maintaining a constant negative pressure on the suction side of the 4. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas,

- comprising means providing a flow-controlling orifice, means for supplying the gas to the intake side of the orifice at a constant substantially atmospheric pressure, a Water aspirator, means providing a suction-chamber and a water column tube extending downward from the suction chamber, a gas passage leading from the orifice to the suction chamber, a short suction "passage leading from the suction chamber to the aspirator throat through which water and gas pass to the aspirator, and means providing an adjustable resistance for varying the suction transmitted through said gas passages tothe discharge side of the orifice. a I

5. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas,- comprising a flow meter having a flow-controlling orifice, means for supplying gas to the intake side of the said orifice at a constant substantially atmospheric pressure, a water aspirator, means for determining the negative pressure on the suction side of the aspirator by the negative head of a column of ing a suction chamber and a water-column tube extending downward from thesuction chamber and a suction passage leading from the suction chamber, and a gas passage leading fromthe fiow meter to said suction chamber. a

I s 6, Apparatus for supplying a treating gas,

comprising means providing a fiow -controlv ling orifice, means for supplying the gas tothe a. I intake side of the orifice at a constant substantially atmos heric pressure, a water as- ,"pirator, means or maintaining a constant negative pressure on the 'suct-ion side of the ,ffaspirator comprising a water column tube con- :nected to the {aspirator throat by a passage 7 theintake end of which is at a distance above thenormal water level of the tube correspondingfto the desired suction head and havinga gas inlet, and a passage leading from the orifice to said gas inlet, and means for varying the suctionhead transmitted from said water column tube to the orifice.

as I

7. Apparatus for supplying atreating gas, comprising a flow meter having a flow-controlhn orifice, means for supplylng the gas to the intakeside of said orifice at a constant, substantially atmospheric pressure, a suctlon device, a gas passage leading from the fiow, meter to the suction device, means for maintaining a constant negative'pressure on the suction side of thesuction device, and means trolling orifice, means for supplying the gas to the intake side of said orifice at a constant substantially atmospheric pressure, a suction device, a gas passage, for the flow of gas only leading from the flow meter and conuectcd to the suction device, and means for maintaining a constant negative pressure on the suct on side of thesuctlon device.

",9. Apparatus for supplying. chlorine,

comprising a chamber in which a supply of chlorine is maintained at a slightly negative pressure, and means ,for drawing chlorine fromsaid chamber ata measuredrate comprising a water aspirator, means 'for mamtaining a constant'negative pressure on the suction side of the aspirator, a flow meter connected between the aspirator and the chlorine chamber and communicating with to a : the chlorine chamber through'a flow-control ling orifice, and adjustable means between the suction head transmittedto the orifice of the flow meter.

10, Apparatus for supplying chlorine,

- comprising a chamber in which a, supply of 65 chlorine is maintained at a slightly negative flow'meter and the aspirator for reducing the I ressure, and means for drawing chlorine rom said chamber at a measured rate com prising a water, aspirator, means for maintaining a constant negative pressure on the suction side of the aspirator, a flow meter communicating with the chlorine chamber through a flow-controlling orifice, and a. gas passage for the flow, of gas only leading from the flow meter and connecting to the aspirator. I

11. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising a flow meter having a flowcontrolling orifice, means for su plying the gas to the intake side of said ori ce at a constant pressure, a gas supply passage leading from the meter,means for maintaining a'flow of water, a gas chamber to which said gas passage leads and from which the gas passes into said flow of water, and means for maintaining a constant pressure in said gas chamber less than the pressure at which the gas is supplied to the meter orifice.

12. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising means providing a flow-controllin orifice, means for supplying the gas to the ntake side of the'orifice at a constant pressure, a gas supply passage leading from the orifice, means "for maintaining at a place in said gas supply lpassage removed from the orifice a constant pressure less than the pressure at which the gas is supplied to the orifice, and means providing an adjustable resistance between said place of constant pressure and across the orifice.

13. Apparatus for supplying a treating 7 tially atmosphericpressure therein, a water aspirator for withdrawing I as from the chamber, means for malntaimng a constant negative pressure on the suction side of the aspirator, a flow meter comprising a water column tube extending upward within the chamber and communicating with the gas space in the gas chamber through a flow-controlling orifice: above the maximum water level in the tube and havin a gas outlet above said maximum water level, a passa e leading from the outlet of said metertufie to the aspirator, and means providing an adjustable restriction for reducing the suction head transmitted to the meter orifice.

l LApparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising agas chamber extendingupward from a constant level water-holding tray from which water has access to the interior of. the chamber, means for supplying gas to said chamber, means responsive to variations in the level of water within the chamher for controlling the supply of as to the chamber to maintain a constant su stantial -ly atmospheric pressure therein, a; water aspirator for withdrawing gas from the chamber, means for determining the ne ative pressureon the suction side of the as irator by the negative head of a column 0 water raised by the aspirator and discharging into the aspirator throat, a flow meter com rising a water column tube extending upwar within' the chamber and communicating with the gas space in the gas chamber through a flowcontrolling orifice above the maximum water level in the tube, and a gas assage leading to the aspirator including a xed tube extending upward within the meter tube to a point above the maximum water level therein.

15. Apparatus for sup lying a treating gas, comprising a as cham er, means for supplylng gas to sa-i chamber, means for controlling the supply of gas to the chamber to maintain a constant substantially atmospheric pressure therein, a flow meter comprising a liquid column tube connected with the gas chamber through'a flow-controlling orifice and havinga gas outlet above the 7 maximum liquid level in the tube, a water as pirator, a gas passage leading from the outet of the meter tu e to the aspirator, and means providing an adjustable resistance for -varying the suction head transmitted to the as, comprising means providing er extending upward from a constant level flow-controlling orifices;

16. Apparatus for supplying a treating agas chamwater-holding tray from which water has ac- 'cess to the interior of the chamber, means for supplying gas to said chamber,means'1for controlling the supply of gas to the chamber to maintain a constant substantially atmosa gas passage leadpheric pressure therein,

' ing from the chamber and connected thereto through a flow-controlling orifice, a suction device for'drawing gas through said passage, and a continuously open water outlet from the water space within the chamber for mainaccess to'the interior of .taining a slight flowof Water into the chamber from the space in the tray outside the chamber.

17. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising means providing a gas chamer extending upward from a constant level water-holdin from which water has the chamber, means for supplying gas. to said chamber, means for controlling the supply of gas to the chamber to maintain a constant substantially a'tmospheric pressure therein,- a gas passage leading from the chamber and connected thereto through a flow-controlling orifice, a suction device for drawing gas through said passage, a water outletfrom the water s ace within the chamber for maintaining a slight flow of water into the chamber from the space above the water level in the tra mg a small compartment into which the water 7 a partition I extending and formin the tray outside the chamber, in the tray outside the chamber flows for supplying the tray, *said partition having an opening below the water level of the tra for the passage of'water from the small c amber into the tray, and an overflow outlet leading from saidsmall compartment,

18. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprisingmeans roviding a flow-controlling orifice means to the intake side of the orifice at a constant substantially atmospheric-pressure, a water aspirator, means for maintaining a constant negative pressure on the suction side of the asplrator comprising a water-column tube connected by a suction passage'to the aspirator'throat and having a gas inlet, a constant level box for supplying water to the water-column tube, said box having a partition dividing the box into two compartments,

or' supplying the gas a valve-controlled water supply inlet discharging into one, of said compartments, a float in the other'compartment for controlling said valve to maintain the water level in the float compartment below the top of said partition, the lower 'end of the water-column tube being submerged in the float compart- 'fiow-controlling orifice comprislng awatercolumn tube connected bya suction passage to the aspirator throat and having "a gas inlet, a constant level box for supplying water to the'water-column tube, said box having. a partition dividingthe box into two compartments, a valve-controlled water supply inlet discharging into one of said compartments, a'fioat in the other compartment for controlling said valve to maintain the water level in the float compartment :below III the top of said partition, the water-column tube recelving its water from the float comartment, and a passage leading from the ow-controllmg orifice to the gas inlet of the water-column tube.

20. Apparatus for supplying a treating gas, comprising means providing aflow-controlling orifice, means including a pressurereducing valve for supplying the gas to the intake side of said orificeat a constant pressure, a gas supply'passage for the flow of gas only leading from the orifice, a suction chamber to'which said water aspirate: 'for vn drawing as passage leads a it the in an .my hand;

CHARLES F; WALLACE. 

